[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR17.54]

[Page 657]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
 
PART 17_MEDICAL--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  17.54  Necessity for prior authorization.

    (a) The admission of a veteran to a non-Department of Veterans 
Affairs hospital at Department of Veterans Affairs expense must be 
authorized in advance. In the case of an emergency which existed at the 
time of admission, an authorization may be deemed a prior authorization 
if an application, whether formal or informal, by telephone, telegraph 
or other communication, made by the veteran or by others in his or her 
behalf is dispatched to the Department of Veterans Affairs (1) for 
veterans in the 48 contiguous States and Puerto Rico, within 72 hours 
after the hour of admission, including in the computation of time 
Saturday, Sunday and holidays, or (2) for veterans in a noncontiguous 
State, territory or possession of the United States (not including 
Puerto Rico) if facilities for dispatch of application as described in 
this section are not available within the 72-hour period, provided the 
application was filed within 72 hours after facilities became available.
    (b) When an application for admission by a veteran in one of the 48 
contiguous States in the United States or in Puerto Rico has been made 
more than 72 hours after admission, or more than 72 hours after 
facilities are available in a noncontiguous State, territory of 
possession of the United States, authorization for continued care at 
Department of Veterans Affairs expense shall be effective as of the 
postmark or dispatch date of the application, or the date of any 
telephone call constituting an informal application.

[42 FR 55212, Oct. 14, 1977. Redesignated at 61 FR 21965, May 13, 1996]